Tire pressure sensor housing

• US 7,204,136 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Thrush, Roger L., Eaton, Steven C., Laurer, Eric Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori; Max
• Application Number:
  US11/024,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 737/56
• US Class Current: 73/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A sensor housing assembly for mounting a tire pressure sensor module within the pressurized cavity of a wheel and tire assembly includes a central housing that includes a housing bottom and defines a cavity therein. A bobbin cover is coupled to the central housing. The bobbin cover and the central housing are mountable to a mounting surface on the wheel. The bobbin cover and the central housing bottom include curved mounting surfaces that are complementary to a curvature of the mounting surface on the wheel. At least one bobbin assembly is received in the bobbin cover. The bobbin assembly is substantially straight and coupled to the central housing at a downward angle toward the wheel.

Claims

1. A sensor housing assembly for mounting a tire pressure sensor module within the pressurized cavity of a wheel and tire assembly, said housing assembly comprising:

a central housing including a rigid housing bottom having a curved mounting surface that is complementary to a curvature of a mounting surface on the wheel, said central housing mountable to the mounting surface of the wheel, said central housing defining a cavity configured to receive the sensor module;

a bobbin cover separately provided from said central housing and being coupled to said central housing, said bobbin cover including a rigid body having a bottom with a curved mounting surface that is complementary to a curvature of the mounting surface on the wheel, said bobbin cover mountable to the mounting surface of the wheel; and

a bobbin assembly received in said bobbin cover, said bobbin assembly being substantially straight and coupled to said central housing at a downward angle toward the wheel, said bobbin assembly configured to generate power and supply the generated power to the sensor module.

2. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said bobbin cover is coupled to said central housing and said bobbin assembly.

3. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said bobbin assembly comprises a first bobbin assembly and a second bobbin assembly sequentially wound from a continuous wire.

4. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said central housing holds contacts for terminating a coil of said bobbin assembly, said contacts having terminal ends extending tbro ugh said central housing bottom and into said cavity.

5. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said central housing holds contacts for terminating a coil of said bobbin assembly, said contacts comprising IDC contacts.

6. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing cover slidably coupled to said central housing.

7. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said bobbin assembly includes a bobbin core having a latch button thereon and said bobbin cover includes a latch receptacle that receives said latch button to attach said bobbin cover to said bobbin core with a snap fit.

8. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said central housing includes first and second opposite ends, each said end including a slot extending horizontally across an interior surface thereof and vertically extending channels formed on an exterior surface thereof, said slots receiving ridges formed on a housing cover for sliding engagement therewith and said channels receiving mounting flanges on said bobbin assembly.

9. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing cover slidably coupled to said central housing, said hausing cover including opposed first and second ends, each said end including a downwardly extending lip that engages a upwardly extending flange on said bobbin cover to retain said bobbin cover to said central housing.

10. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing assembly is sealed.

11. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said bobbin cover includes a tab that covers a lead wire area of a bobbin core of said bobbin assembly.

21. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said bobbin assembly is the only power source for the sensor module.

22. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor housing assembly is batteryless.

23. The sensor housing assembly of claim 1, wherein said bobbin assembly generates power when rotated in a magnetic field.

12. A sensor housing assembly for mounting a tire pressure sensor module within the pressurized cavity of a wheel and tire assembly, said housing assembly comprising:

a central housing holding contacts, each said contact comprising a terminal end that extends through a bottom of said central housing into a cavity therein, said cavity receiving the sensor module, the sensor module being electrically connected to said terminal ends when the sensor module is received in said cavity;

a bobbin assembly coupled to said central housing, said bobbin assembly including a coil wound around a bobbin core, wherein the coil is configured to generate power, and said coil being electrically connected to and supplying power to the sensor module through said contacts; and

a bobbin cover having a rigid body defining a cavity, said bobbin assembly received in said cavity, said bobbin cover and said central housing bottom including curved mounting surfaces having curvatures that are complementary to a curvature of a mourning surface on the wheel, said bobbin cover and said central housing configured to be mounted to the mounting surface on the wheel.

13. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said contacts comprise insulation displacement contacts (IDC).

14. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said contacts comprise double slotted IDC contacts providing redundant coil terminations.

16. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said bobbin assembly comprises a first bobbin assembly and a second bobbin assembly and said bobbin coils are sequentially wound from a continuous wire.

17. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said bobbin assembly is coupled to said central housing at a downward angle toward the wheel.

18. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12 further comprising a housing cover slidably coupled to said central housing, said housing cover including first and second opposite ends, each said end including a downwardly extending lip that engages a flange on said bobbin cover to retain said bobbin cover to said central housing.

19. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said bobbin core includes a latch button and said bobbin cover includes a latch receptacle that receives said latch button to attach said bobbin cover to said bobbin core with a snap fit.

20. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said central housing includes first and second opposite ends, each said end including a slot extending horizontally across an interior surface thereof and vertically extending channels formed on an exterior surface thereof, said slots receiving ridges formed on a housing cover for sliding engagement therewith and said channels receiving mounting flanges on said bobbin core.

24. The sensor housing assembly of claim 12, wherein said bobbin core extends along a linear axis.

15. A sensor housing assembly, for mounting a tire pressure sensor module within the pressurized cavity of a wheel and tire assembly, said housing assembly comprising:

a central housing holding contacts, each said contact comprising a terminal end that extends through a bottom of said central housing into a cavity therein, said cavity receiving the sensor module, the sensor module being electrically connected to said terminal ends when the sensor module is received in said cavity;

a bobbin assembly couoled to said central housing, said bobbin assembly including a coil wound around a bobbin core, and said coil being electrically connected to the sensor module through said contacts; and

a bobbin cover coupled to said bobbin assembly, said bobbin assembly received in said bobbin cover, said bobbin cover and said central housing bottom including curved mounting surfaces that are complementary to a curvature of a mounting surface on the wheel;

wherein said contacts comprise IDC contacts oriented such that centrifugal forces drive a terminating end of said coil deeper into said contacts.